Liriano stops Indians streak, lifts Twins to win

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MINNEAPOLIS(AP) -- Francisco Liriano is staying positive while
most of the Minnesota Twins' rotation continues to struggle.

He just wants to keep going.

"We've been struggling a little bit, but we have to keep
playing," he said. "We can pitch a little bit better, but I
think we're going to be all right."

Liriano was more than all right on Wednesday, pitching seven
innings as the Twins snapped the Cleveland Indians' six-game
winning streak with a 6-0 victory.

Liriano (8-7) allowed 10 baserunners but stayed poised and
benefited from three double plays, like in the fifth when Jayson
Nix's bouncer back to the mound with the bases loaded led to a
rare 1-2-3 inning-ender. The left-hander struck out eight,
including rookie Carlos Santana with runners at the corners to
finish the third inning.

"He took care of business with runners on, and that's what good
pitchers do," said Shelley Duncan, who grounded into a 4-6-3
double play with two on and none out in the second.

With three switch-hitters and six righties in the lineup, the
young Indians were ready for Liriano, who has not allowed a home
run to a left-handed hitter since April 6, 2009. He also has
walked only one lefty all season.

After a couple of long high foul balls to left that hooked away
from the pole, Cleveland's Matt LaPorta whiffed at a high
fastball to strike out in the fourth.

"Back in 2006 he looked like a freak to everybody. He was just
flat-out overpowering," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "But he
looks good. He looks like a top of the rotation type of guy
right now to me."

Delmon Young had three hits and three RBIs, making up for a
baserunning blunder during Minnesota's four-run third. He was
thrown out at the plate by a few yards trying to score from
second on Michael Cuddyer's RBI single.

J.J. Hardy picked him up with a two-run double later in the
inning against Jake Westbrook (6-6), who struggled with his
control in what could be one of his final starts with Cleveland.

Westbrook is one of several starting pitchers around the majors
who could be fetched in a trade, a market the Twins might need
to tap into to defend their division title. But the right-hander
allowed four runs and six hits with five walks in six innings in
this one, not exactly enhancing his value.

"Have to do a little better job there minimizing the damage,"
Westbrook said, adding: "I felt great today. That was the
frustrating part."

Though the Twins still have plenty of pitching problems to
solve, Liriano's first two turns of the second half have at
least served to solidify the front of the rotation.

"To me it's another game. I'm not trying to put pressure on
myself," Liriano said. "I'm just trying to go out there and do
my job. It's a great feeling."

Perhaps most importantly, both performances followed Twins
losses. Of their six shutouts this season, Liriano has started
four.

"This team can do a lot of things if we get pitching like that,"
said third base coach Scott Ullger, who ran the team while
manager Ron Gardenhire tended to a personal matter.

This series against the Indians started a stretch of 13 straight
games against losing teams, but that doesn't matter as much as
the Twins rediscovering their swagger and refocusing on
fundamentals - like baserunning - that have previously made them
so successful.

Starting Thursday, they'll play 17 of their next 20 games on the
road, where they're 20-25.

"It was a good win, especially with how hot they're playing
right now," Young said.

NOTES: Indians LHP Aaron Laffey will have an MRI on Thursday. He
has been fighting arm fatigue. ... Indians OF Austin Kearns sat
out for the second straight game after being pulled Monday
because of right knee soreness. ... Minnesota's Joe Mauer was on
the bench to rest, the day after his botched, widely panned bunt
attempt. "I really can't recall a No. 3 hitter doing that, but
stranger things have happened," Ullger said. "Whether that was
the right thing or the wrong thing, he's just trying to help us
win." ... The Twins have yet to be swept in 16 series at Target
Field. ... Jim Thome walked four times for the Twins. ...
Anthony Slama made his major league debut for the Twins in the
ninth, striking out two. He has a mustache he's been growing
since April, before Carl Pavano made the look popular in
Minnesota. "It's good to see some real men in here," Slama said.